You're Not In This Alone

When we get to the diner we sit together in a booth and once we order our pancakes and drinks Ryan turns to me and pulls me into his side as he seals his mouth over mine and I kiss back, my hands sliding up to tangle in his hair. We kiss for a few minutes and it starts to get heated when we break for air and we pant into each other's mouths as Ryan smiles wide and says "Fuck that was amazing. You're so incredibly beautiful Ruby." I feel myself blush as I drop my head and Ryan chuckles before reaching out and cupping my chin, tilting my head back up to kiss me again and just as our lips touch someone clears their throat and we pull apart to see Brendon, Sarah and Liz standing there. "Mind if we join you?" Liz asks and I sigh as Ryan says "Uh, sure." Just as they sit opposite us the waitress comes back with my coffee and Ryan's milkshake and I grab my coffee, taking a big mouthful and Ryan laughs and says "Geez you're such a junkie." I put the cup down and swallow the coffee before sticking my tongue out at him and he smiles wide at me and I go to smile back but someone kicks me under the table and I look over to see Liz sitting opposite me and I let out a small sigh. The other guys order food and the waitress leaves again and Ryan slides his arm around my waist and pulls me tight against his side and gently slides his thumb under my shirt and rubs small circles on my skin. "You ok baby?" He whispers in my ear and I sigh softly before turning and whispering back "I'll live." We make small talk with Brendon, Sarah and Liz until our pancakes arrive and I lean over and steal a sip of Ryan's milkshake and Sarah coos "Aww you guys are so damn cute." Ryan and I smile at each other before turning our attention back to them and Liz is scowling hard at me. I feel awkward sitting with them and halfway through my pancakes I ask Ryan to let me out and I make my way into the ladies room, needing a break for a few minutes. I stand at the sink and stare at my reflection, Liz's words from yesterday rattling in my brain, "Ugly whale." I feel my bottom lip quiver as I start to see what she's talking about and the door opening startles me slightly. "Hey you feeling ok?" Sarah asks softly and I turn to face her, struggling to not tell her about Brendon. "Yeah, just needed a minute" I tell her and she smiles warmly at me and says "Ok, I'll tell Ry you'll be out when you're ready. He really cares about you, whenever you're not around he's wondering what you're doing and if you're ok. He constantly talks about you..." "I apologise" I tell her, joking and she smiles as she says "Take care of him Ruby, he's been hurt before." "So have I and I don't plan on hurting him" I tell her and she nods and says "And don't worry about Liz." "Easier said than done" I tell her and she offers me another small smile before leaving again and I turn back to my reflection, staring for another few seconds before I can't take it anymore and I push away from the sink, leaving the restroom and going back to the table where I see Liz has moved to sit on mine and Ryan's side of the table. I walk over and clear my throat and Ryan smiles up at me but Liz looks up at me with pure disgust on her face and she makes no move to get up and let me back in. I stand there awkwardly for a few seconds and she still doesn't move and I'm about to just leave altogether when Ryan says "Liz, fucking move" and she looks over at him shocked before she gets up and Ryan slides out, letting me in and I slide along the bench as he slides back in next to me. Once we're all sitting again I pick at my pancakes, not really interested in them anymore and Ryan asks if I'm ok. "Yeah" I tell him and he frowns at me, clearly not buying it. I sit in silence while everyone else finishes eating and makes small talk and when everyone else is done the waitress comes back with the bill and as I go to grab my purse from my bag Ryan grabs my wrist and says "Don't even think about it" putting money on the table for our food.

After we leave the diner we all decide to hang out and we go to a nearby arcade, laughing and joking around as we play various games, Sarah and I getting along well and I find myself having fun despite Liz's filthy looks and attempts to make things awkward for me. After a while Brendon and Sarah are occupied playing a game against each other and I tell Ryan I'll be back, going to the bathroom and when I come back I see him and Liz standing behind Brendon and Sarah but they're focused on each other not the game being played and as I get close Liz leans up and kisses Ryan. I freeze in place and watch it unfold, Liz's lips moving against Ryan's and he stands there letting it happen for a few seconds before he pushes her away and she smirks over at me, Ryan turning his head to follow her gaze. "Ruby" he says softly as he takes a step towards me, his arms held out to me but I don't really acknowledge him more than shoving past him on my way over to Liz and I clench my hand into a fist and drive it into her face.

Notes